A monthly Memorial Prayer Vigil for refugees and asylum-seekers takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month outside the Home Office, SW1P 4DF, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Praying for
Those who died trying to reach the UK
Victims of current wars
Those in detention and who are homeless
The UK to be a more welcoming nation
Sign up to receive email news & alerts of changes orcancellation at: homeofficevigil@gmail.com
Co-sponsored by Westminster Justice and Peace Commission London Catholic Worker and London Churches Refugee Fund
By Khurram Daniel, Westminster Justice and Peace Commission Volunteer
General elections were held in Pakistan on Wednesday 8th February 2024. As a result of elections 2024, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has become the single largest political party of Pakistan, winning the National Assembly 93 seats out of 266 contestable seats, but the PTI independents contested as individuals. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) were able to secure 75 seats thereby lacking a clear majority, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 54 and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) won 17 seats.
At the provincial levels, PML-N formed the government in Punjab by becoming the largest party in Punjab, winning 137 seats, which has provided opportunity to Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to become first ever female Chief Minister of Punjab, whereas PTI (independent candidates) remained the largest party in Kyber Pakthun Khawa winning 91 seats and PPP remained the largest party in Sindh by securing 84 and also became the single majority party in Baluchistan by wining 11 seats but added other parties for formation of a coalition government.
However, the election process itself has been marred by controversies. Delays in result reporting, allegations of tampering, and discrepancies in vote counts have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the electoral process. PTI officials have accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of manipulation, prompting legal challenges and calls for resignations within the ECP. The revelations of electoral fraud and irregularities have heightened concerns and underscored the urgent need for thorough investigations. The people of Pakistan hope that all three pillars of the government i.e. Judiciary, Executive and Legislature will work together for building a progressive and peaceful nation. This is the responsibility of the newly formed government that they should play a vital role to strengthen the democratic institutions, ensure rule of law, and give particular focus to the sectors of health, education and social wellbeing, and hope that the opposition will also play a positive role in this regard.
The implications of these elections extend beyond Pakistan’s borders. Given its strategic geopolitical location and regional influence, political stability in Pakistan is crucial for regional security, economic partnerships, and diplomatic relations within South Asia. With ongoing instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s approach to managing its border and handling refugees will significantly impact regional dynamics.
Furthermore, the extensive influence of the military on Pakistan’s politics continues to draw scrutiny. Concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, including suspicions of cyber interference and internet blackouts, raise questions about the integrity of Pakistan’s democratic institutions.
Beside seeking development and progress of the nation, the government should also prioritize the issues of the religious and sectarian minorities so that they are integrated well in the society and feel proud to be responsible Pakistanis, because Pakistan belongs as much to minorities as it does to the majority.
In a notable development following Pakistan’s recent elections, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) took a positive step towards inclusivity by appointing Mr. Anthony Naveed from Karachi as the Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh. This appointment carries significant weight as it marks a stride towards representation for religious minorities in the political landscape. Anthony’s appointment underscores the importance of diversity and inclusion in governance, signalling a move towards a more representative and inclusive political system in Pakistan. Such actions are essential for fostering social cohesion and ensuring that the voices of all segments of society are heard and represented in decision-making processes.
More people from the minority communities must be given such roles & responsibilities in the government at both Federal and Provincial level and the government should also give due representation to the minorities in all its ministerial cabinets.
I am glad that the previous government has completed its term and now another democratic government has taken over the charge after the general elections. In my opinion while the general elections did provide an opportunity for all communities to cast their vote and for some semblance of a democratic transition taking place, the alleged measures by the caretaker govt have raised many questions on the credibility of the elections being free and fair. It was encouraging to witness that some members from the minority communities were awarded general seats to contest the elections, and I hope that in future all political parties will make an effort to empower the minorities in the electoral process by awarding more general seats to them to contest elections. There is a long way to go for true democracy to evolve in Pakistan, but the recent elections give us a ray of hope that if the political parties and govt have the will to mend all the wrongs of the past, that we may ultimately see equal opportunities being provided to all citizens of Pakistan, regardless of caste, colour or creed. In addition, many Pakistanis like me feel deprived for being away from country, who are unable to use their right to cast their vote and not being part of such an important process. I hope that in future the government would seriously look into the flaws and loopholes and take concrete steps by making much-needed reforms to strengthen the democratic process to make the election process transparent and make legislative reforms especially for the protection of religious minorities in Pakistan while also consider including the overseas Pakistanis into the election process.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s recent elections have not provided the anticipated clarity and stability. Instead, they have underscored the entrenched influence of the military, raised doubts about the fairness of the electoral process, and highlighted the urgent need for reforms to ensure genuine democratic governance in the country.
However, everyone extended prayerful best wishes for the new newly formed government, with the hope that they will invite everyone to work together for the uplift of the weak and marginalized communities and people in society, also guide the youth and the nation towards coexistence, and sincerely work hard for the prosperity and common good of all the citizens of Pakistan.
All are warmly invited to join Westminster Justice and Peace to pray for peace in the Holy Land and other war-torn countries on the eve of Pentecost, Saturday 18th May 2024 at 8.00pm.
The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit was composed in 1892 by a Franciscan Capuchin missionary of the English province in order to give the faithful a means of honouring the third person of the Trinity. It was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.
This Rosary consists of five groups of seven beads each. In each group, the ‘Glory be to the Father’ is said on the seven small beads and an Our Father and a Hail Mary on the two large beads. There are three beads at the beginning for the Sign of the Cross, an Act of Contrition and the hymn ‘Come Holy Ghost’.
There is a mystery for each of the five groups, commemorating the Five Wounds of Jesus , which are the fountains of grace which the Holy Spirit imparts to all.
Mary Pierre-Harvey from St Michael and St Martin Parish, Hounslow, will lead us through the Chaplet.
To join us, please register with Eventbrite or contact the Justice and Peace Co-ordinator, Colette Joyce, on colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk
Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has released a statement on the Criminal Justice Bill expressing his deep concern about two tabled amendments that seek to liberalise abortion laws. They are set to be debated next week.
Bishop Sherrington also voiced his support for two other tabled amendments, one of which would reduce the abortion time limit and the other that would not allow babies with Down syndrome to be aborted up to birth.
Bishop Sherrington’s full statement is below:
Four amendments have been submitted to the Criminal Justice Bill which relate to the protection of unborn babies and will be debated on 15 May.
I support the amendment from Caroline Ansell MP (New Clause 15) that would reduce the abortion time limit to 22 weeks. As a result of advances in medical practices many babies can now survive if born at 22 or 23 weeks’ gestation. I hope that parliamentarians will support this amendment.
Likewise, I call on parliamentarians to support the amendment tabled by Sir Liam Fox MP (New Clause 41), which will bring an end to the situation whereby babies diagnosed with Down syndrome can be aborted up to birth. This would be a step towards ending the discrimination against babies diagnosed with a disability in our current abortion law.
However, I am deeply alarmed by two amendments to the same Bill, one of which is proposed by Dame Diana Johnson MP (New Clause 1). This amendment, if passed, will remove any legal protection for unborn babies when a woman seeks to bring about her own abortion at any stage of pregnancy. A further danger presented by this amendment is that women could abort their own pregnancies at home through the use of abortion pills at any point in the pregnancy, which could seriously endanger a woman’s health and life. Moreover, the risks of coerced or forced abortion would only increase as the legal safeguards around abortion decrease.
The second amendment by Stella Creasy MP (New Clause 40) includes proposals to decriminalise abortion up to the 24th week for any party involved and carries similar threats to pregnant women and their unborn babies.
The Church recognises the struggle and trauma which may lead some pregnant women to consider an abortion. Such difficult situations require pastoral and medical care for vulnerable women in their time of need. When cases of illegal abortions are prosecuted, it is for the judge to decide the appropriate balance of justice and mercy for all involved.
Our current legislation provides some level of protection for pregnant mothers and unborn babies by keeping abortion within the criminal law. Relaxing abortion legislation further would be a tragic mistake for both mother and child.
As Pope Francis has said: “It is troubling to see how simple and convenient it has become for some to deny the existence of a human life as a solution to problems that can and must be solved for both the mother and her unborn child”. In England and Wales, both unborn child and pregnant mother deserve full protection under our laws, as some of the most vulnerable in our society.
I encourage people to contact their MPs to make their views clear on these amendments.
Bishop John Sherrington
Lead Bishop for Life Issues and Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster
Quakers in Britain, CAFOD, SCIAF and Christian Aid have joined around 30 other charities calling on the UK government to take meaningful action to stop any further attacks on Rafah in Southern Gaza by the Israeli military.
On Monday, the Israeli military issued relocation orders to people sheltering in parts of Rafah. Israeli tanks have entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, blocking completely the passage for people and humanitarian aid.
Text of Statement
London, 7 May 2024.
The UK Government has repeatedly asked Israel not to unleash a slaughter in Rafah, Gaza.
Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron is “very concerned about what is happening in Rafah” and knows “it is impossible to fight a war amongst all these people. There is nowhere for them to go.”
Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell thinks that, “an Israeli incursion will struggle to be compliant with international law.”
Middle East Minister, Lord Ahmad said that, “the fighting must stop now, in order to get the hostages home.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister acknowledges that, “too many innocent civilians have died in Gaza.”
David Cameron also asked Israel for a ‘Plan B’ for Rafah to ensure, “people can achieve safety, get food, medicine and water, and that people are kept safe.”
They have been ignored by Israel.
Yesterday, the Israeli military issued relocation orders to people sheltering in parts of Rafah, the first step towards a full-scale invasion that will most likely kill thousands of civilians. The area people are being directed to is already overstretched and lacks the capacity and resources to accommodate the number of people seeking refuge. The relocation orders lack guarantees of safety and the right to return, which risk violating International law.
In the last 12 hours, Israel has intensely bombed Rafah, including civilian homes and areas marked as safe. This morning, Israeli tanks entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, blocking completely the passage for people and humanitarian aid.
There are no safe spaces in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly attacked so-called ‘safe zones’, killing displaced people. Any claims from Israel that civilians can be safely relocated have no credibility.
The failure of our leaders to back words with meaningful action is glaring. As the 1.4 million people in Rafah face attacks that our leaders know would be catastrophic, they must finally act to stop the slaughter.
The UK must work urgently to stop any further assault on Rafah from going ahead, demand an immediate lasting ceasefire, resume funding to UNRWA, and suspend arms sales to Israel for as long as there is a risk they may be used to violate international law.
A ceasefire is the only way to stop the death and destruction, get more aid to those who desperately need it, and safely release the hostages.
There is no Plan B for the people in Rafah.
Signed:
1. Action For Humanity
2. ActionAid UK
3. Amos Trust
4. Bond
5. CAFOD
6. Care International UK
7. Christian Aid
8. Council for Arab-British Understanding
9. Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
British Sign Language (BSL) ‘Our Father’ – Caritas Westminster Deaf Service’
This week is Deaf Awareness Week; a time to focus on the Deaf Community and their presence in our parishes.
Shell Roca, Head of Caritas Westminster Deaf Service, writes, “the community has a great deal to offer our parishes. Our parishes need to be accessible and welcoming to the Deaf Community.”
One such gift is British Sign Language. A seminarian at Allen Hall says, “Learning BSL has helped me to appreciate the beauty of communication. Learning to communicate with those in the Deaf Community in their own language has helped me broaden my theological and philosophical understanding of my faith.”
This year of preparation for the Holy Year in 2025 has been designated a Year of Prayer, with a special focus on the Our Father.
Why not take the time to learn the Our Father in BSL this year, using the video above, and enhance your own prayer?
If you can already pray the Lord’s Prayer in BSL, this might be a good time to teach other people in your parish or church organisation so that more of us can pray it together.
It’s Deaf Awareness Week; a time to focus on the Deaf Community and their presence in our parishes. The Deaf Community have a lot to offer the wider Catholic family. You may well have already seen on TV from Strictly Come Dancing and the Great British Bake Off, that Deaf people can dance and cook; in both cases brilliantly. Deaf people can be Eucharistic Ministers, they can be readers at Mass, part of the team who do the flowers, or prepare the tea and coffee after Mass.
Deaf men can be priests and deacons; the community has a great deal to offer our parishes. Our parishes need to be accessible and welcoming to the Deaf Community.
One group of people who have started on that journey by learning to sign in church are some of the seminarians currently studying at Allen Hall. Representing Hexham and Newcastle, Liverpool, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southwark and Westminster Dioceses, these are our future “signing priests”.
On the 14th April for the first time that any of us are aware of, a Mass in Word and Sign was celebrated at Allen Hall by Fr Keith Stoakes. The seminarians who have been learning to sign took part, signing a reading, the bidding prayers and signing two hymns.
Deaf people were invited to the Mass and greatly enjoyed the experience. “Mass at Allen Hall, wow, that was special. The seminarians were so good. I was impressed.”
With refreshments afterwards and an opportunity to chat, the Deaf Community were able to share with the seminarians their experiences of being Deaf Catholics, an example of which being the distance some of the group have to travel to access a Mass that is signed, with one attendee coming all the way from Dorset. There are so few opportunities for Deaf people to attend a signed Mass and practice their Catholic faith.
Two of the seminarians reflected on their start of this journey of learning to sign Mass and work with the Deaf Community: “Learning BSL has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Being able to have conversations and engage the Deaf Community in the Mass and liturgy has been incredibly useful during parish placements and will be of great use in my future ministry. BSL has been beneficial in helping me to hold basic conversations from fingerspelling, expressing feelings and being able to lead prayers.”
“Learning BSL has helped me to appreciate the beauty of communication. As a man training for the Priesthood being able to communicate the Gospel with a variety of people is vital. Learning to communicate with those in the Deaf Community in their own language has helped me broaden my theological and philosophical understanding of my faith.”
Archbishop John Wilson gave the following homily at today’s London Migrant Workers Mass at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
It’s wonderful see everyone here today. And I hope you all feel at home. Maybe you could turn to the person behind you or in front of your or beside you and if you don’t know them just say “I’m glad you’re here.” … I’m glad you’re here… its OK they don’t need your life story – we can do that afterwards..”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we honour St Joseph with a specific title: St Joseph the Worker. And we know from the Gospels that he was a carpenter.
He was the husband of Our Blessed Lady, and the foster father of the Lord Jesus. And it’s good to remember, and it’s in the Catechism if you want to look it up, that for most of his life before he began his public ministry, the Lord Jesus lived a life like most of us, like most people in history. A daily life kind of hidden. No evidence of greatness at that point. And a life of manual labour. A life of work. Like his foster father Joseph, the Lord Jesus was a worker a carpenter.
He would of course become a miracle worker. And the worker of our salvation.
But it’s right today as we gather, that our celebration focuses on the dignity and the importance of human work.
There’s a story told – and you may have heard it before – but please laugh at the end anyway – whether you’ve heard it or not. During a parish retreat the parish priest invited a group of priests from different religious orders to take part. And in preparation they went in to the church to pray. And as they began to pray – the lights went out.
And so the Benedictines – they prayed from memory. The Jesuits had a discussion about whether if there was no light did they have to pray. The Franciscans composed a song, praising God for the gift of darkness. The Dominicans restarted their debate about how light is sign of the transmission of faith. The Carmelites just became silent. Eventually up gets the parish priest, and goes to the hallway, replaces the fuse and the lights come on.
Now prayer is important. Our spiritual life is vital. But so is work. So is work. And the Catholic social tradition teaches that work is both a duty and a right. It’s through work that we collaborate with God our creator. That we exercise an authentic stewardship over the earth’s resources. That we provide for ourselves and our families and our communities and especially for the weakest and the poorest. It’s through work that we recognise and harness the gifts and the talents given by God to each person. All different. All needed. It’s through work that we grow in virtue. Not least patience and perseverance . It’s through work that we grow in holiness, uniting our work to the great work of salvation in Christ.
St John Paul II said that work helps us to be more human, (I don’t know what you think about that – do you agree?) Work helps us to be more human. And just as we need work we also need rest. We need to recreate, humanly and spiritually, honouring God’s own rest at the end of creation.
Work is part of God’s plan for us. It helps us understand our identity. And fulfil our mission. So many people in the past and today have come here to seek and to provide essential work for our nation.
Recent information shows that foreign-born people make up nearly one fifth of the working population in the United Kingdom. That surprises me. That’s a big number.
Many highly educated migrant workers are over-qualified for the jobs they do here in the United Kingdom. Significant numbers of workers from overseas support the UK in the hospitality sector, in transport, in communications and in information technology.
And here’s a really amazing statistic which is true: almost one fifth of the NHS in England are people of nationalities other that British.
The contribution of migrant workers to the United Kingdom is immense. So much so – that we wonder how could we survive without them. But the decision to leave one’s homeland – which many of you have taken – to leave one’s family sometimes as well and to search for work here – that’s not an easy decision to take. It demands courage and sacrifice.
So how important it is to today to say thank you. To say thank you to everyone here and by extension to say thank you to everyone who had migrated to our country to work here in the United Kingdom. Because that’s you and thank you. Generously sincerely thank you.
It’s important that you know that our life together is better because you’re here. That our life together is better because of the skills and the service and the contribution that you give. That our life together is better because of the diversity of cultures that you bring to our and your communities We are better in our country because you are here.
The Catholic Church in the UK has always been a migrant church long before any of us were born. Members coming from across the world . Our parishes or schools, our chaplaincies, not least across London in our three dioceses, are a beautiful mosaic of people from all nations who find here in the Church a home. We are proud of this as a Church in our country. We are proud that our doors are open and there is a welcome for everyone. We celebrate our diversity of nations with joy. The blessing of our unity in Christ gives witness in the Church to the harmony of humanity and this is a precious sign which we send out to our country – not least to those who would argue otherwise!
Catholic Social teaching upholds the dignity and the rights of workers. It condemns all forms of injustice toward working people whatever their country or origin or status in life. The human person is always more important than the product they produce. The human person is always more important that the service they provide.
Work is for the person. Not the person for work. Employment should never use a person, placing on them intolerable burdens and unacceptable conditions. Rather work its a noble calling to share the life of our Creator.
Work enables the human person to flourish in their families and in society. And while work contributes to our fulfilment we must remember we must never forget that every person is more than their job. First and foremost every person, each of you, is a son or daughter of God. Valuable and respected for who you are. Not for what you achieve or what you do.
Today dear friends the Church points us to St Joseph for encouragement. He’s a model for us who work. A model who provided dedication and protection for his family. Who was faithful to what God asked of him.
And so today we ask the prayers of St Joseph. We ask him to pray with us for the protection of workers and their rights. We ask St Joseph to pray with us for respect for the dignity of human labour. And we ask St Joseph to pray with us for an increased appreciation of the valued role of workers from overseas in our communities. That they, that you, are treated honourable and properly.
Like our Church in this country the history of humanity is a history of migration, of movement, of shifting people across land and sea through time.
The history of our faith is a history of migration from Abraham to the people of Israel, From the Holy Family to the countless asylum seekers, refugees and migrants of our own day.
The experience of being a stranger in a strange land is somehow woven into the fabric of our human existence, therefore we must be people of welcome. We must be people of welcome and in welcoming our we encounter in them the face of Christ. In listening to their story we begin to understand their unique identity. In offering refugee and asylum and the opportunity to work we build a better future together.
My brothers and sisters, the foster child of St Joseph the Worker the carpenter’s son is the Word made Flesh.
The Lord Jesus our brother, our friend, our Saviour, himself learned to work as a carpenter. And that prepared him for the work of salvation on the wood of the Cross.
The Lord Jesus gives us a commandment that has no exceptions. To love God to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
May the example and the prayers of St Joseph the Worker inspire us to go from here renewed with a mission of welcome of solidarity and of justice. So that the gifts of all may rise in the service of all. Amen
Westminster Justice and Peace are part of the Faith for the Climate network which brings together people of different faiths working on climate issues across the UK.
Faith for the Climate are hosting an interfaith event for Great Big Green Week at St John’s Church, Waterloo , 73 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8TY, on Sunday 9th June 2024, 1.00pm – 4.00pm.
Everyone is welcome. Do come along and join us!
1.00pm – Interfaith Picnic Communal picnic in the garden of St John’s Church – including children’s activities and faith-based stalls focused on the Great Big Green Week’s theme of ‘swaps’. Please bring your own picnics. The Justice and Peace Co-ordinator for Westminster, Colette Joyce, is planning a treasure hunt!
2.30 pm: Creative Responses to the Climate Crisis Entertainment including poetry and performances.
3.15 pm: Interfaith Responses & Commitment
3.30 pm: Tea
Faith for the Climate exists to encourage, inspire and equip faith communities in their work on the climate crisis. People of faith see our planet as a gift, and believe we have a sacred responsibility to show solidarity and support for those who have done the least to cause climate change but are suffering its worst impacts.
Many of our faiths and belief systems also share a “Golden Rule”: treat others as you wish to be treated. Faith communities have a unique and precious role to play – in our thought, speech, worship and action, alongside and in partnership with secular environmental organisations – enabling people of faith to live out their calling by acting to protect the climate.
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 